Arrests of Carlos Enrique Lopez-Soto and Roberto Garcia-Santiago

FBI San Juan
June 05, 2014

Special Agent Moises Quiñones(787) 759-1550

SAN JUAN—Special Agent in Charge Carlos Cases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) San Juan Division announced the arrests of Carlos Enrique Lopez-Soto and Roberto Garcia Santiago. On June 4, 2014, Carlos Enrique Lopez-Soto and Roberto Garcia Santiago were taken into custody by the FBI and charged with interference with commerce by robbery, aiding and abetting, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, aiding and abetting, and possession of firearm by a prohibited person.

A federal complaint states that on June 3, 2014, Carlos Enrique Lopez-Soto and Roberto Garcia Santiago entered an AT&T cellular store (AT&T Wasabi Technology Group) n Lares, Puerto Rico, and announced a robbery to the female employee present. Lopez-Soto was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, while Garcia-Santiago was only wearing a baseball cap. Both individuals brandished black firearms during the robbery.

The female employee was taken to an office in the back of the store. Lopez-Soto and Garcia-Santiago asked for the cell phones and demanded the employee to open a metal cabinet, where new cell phones were stored.

While there, Lopez-Soto told the female employee that he was going to blow her head up if she did not comply with their demands. After the employee agreed to open the cabinet, both individuals placed multiple amounts of new cellular phones in a plastic bag. Both individuals stole U.S. currency in the amount of approximately $200. Later, the individuals were observed fleeing the crime scene in a car.

If convicted, the defendants face up to a maximum of 25 years in prison. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Assistant (SAUSA) Kelly Zenon and is being investigated by the FBI.

The public is reminded that a criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.